My mom and dad - they were always there. They were always on the set. They focused on our family life. The entertainment business wasn't the end-all. They weren't out to get the next big paycheck or the next big movie. It was about 'What can we do as a family.'

My dad was an inventor and I think I've always had a rosy view of technology or at least its potential.

I always told my dad I'd play professional football.

My mum was very conscious about fashion and my dad was born into the tailoring tradition so fashion has always been my life although now really I wear the same thing - just in different weights - light and heavy cashmere in winter and cotton in summer.

I've always had an affinity for lawyers. My dad is a lawyer. He's retired now. My brother is a lawyer.

It's always been a dream of mine to get somewhere and to have my mom and dad with me up there.

My folks have played everything from rock disco pop funk and blues. My dad has always brought and played different genres like jazz classical and Latin. With all this in my pocket I feel I have a taste of everything for my influences.

From about eight years old I was always making things on the sewing machine. Friends would see me making dresses and costumes and I'd use difficult fabrics such as Lycra and elastic. But you know my dad was creative and my brother is inventive too.

My mom was a dancer my dad's a singer and I've always had that kind of music in my life.

I'd always assumed that I would die at about the same age as my dad - he was 45. I am five years in credit now. I can't get my head around the fact that I am older than he was - ever.

I actually study boxing - my dad was a Golden Gloves champion so I learned how to fight at a very young age. Growing up in Brooklyn you always had to watch your back so I pretty much learned to protect myself.

From my first dunk at 14 years old to my second NCAA Championship at the University of Tennessee my intense training with my dad was always to credit.

I always wanted to be a father. I have a beautiful relationship with my dad and beautiful memories. I always knew I was going to have a family.

I was really bright as a kid and tested well and it was clear that I was going to get scholarships to any schools I wanted. My dad always said I could be an engineer at that time it was the elite of society: steady job working in science which was then the answer to every problem we had. It was kind of a mandate. Kind of a dream he had for me.

We always had lutefisk for Christmas dinner after which Dad read from the Norwegian Bible.

My dad always said I was hard-headed that it would take something like that to wake me up spiritually and I guess it did. My heart had gotten so beat up that I didn't have anything left to give.

Work ethic has always been stressed in my family. My dad is going to be 80 years old and he still works part time. My mom just retired a couple years ago and she's in her mid- to late 70s.

My dad is very successful in his business. He's always been big in having hobbies and having little ways to get away. He always made time for hunting and fishing. He always encouraged me to do it.

From my dad I learned to be good to people to always be honest and straightforward. I learned hard work and perseverance.

My dad has always been very proud of me but I think I have exceeded his expectations. When I told him I wanted to be an actor and moved to New York City I think he assumed I would be playing the guitar on the subway and collecting spare change in my guitar case. The fact that I'm not doing that means that I'm a huge success.

I had always loved music. I grew up listening to classic country Waylon Jennings Merle Haggard. My dad loved Vern Gosdin and Keith Whitley. So I kept going to class and started getting totally into playing guitar and teaching myself these songs.

The best thing I ever learned from my dad was he knew he wasn't the best of singers but he always knew he was a great entertainer and I always thought that was a good concept to bring along that ultimately acting is an entertainment art and you have to be aware of the fact that you want people to be excited to be watching you.

But my father was also the one who told me I needed to clean up my mouth or I'd never find a man. What's very important to him is manners. Show up on time. Always send thank-you letters. He is one of the more thoughtful humans I've ever met. He's a great man and a very good dad.

My dad has always been really helpful. He taught me that talent is a bonus but persistence is what wins out.